We asked some of the most creative folks we know to open up to us about why they chose a creative career path. Check out their responses below.

Mattie ONeill | Photographer & Videographer

As a child and teenager, I was always pulled to photography as an emotional and artistic outlet. It was my way of communicating with myself and the world. As time went on and priorities shifted, I didn’t realize that photography was going to be the ultimate way for me to express my passion and desire for connection with other people. I pursued a career in hospitality fields for almost a decade before I found my way back into the creative field and it just all makes sense when creativity is the main focus. Read more>>

J. Connor Sittig | Artist, Instructor, & Curator.

Vincent Van Gogh wrote that he perpetually sought to be of use in this world, and this was a noble pursuit that bound itself tightly to every worry and thought as I grew older. When I was younger, art was a means of expression and collaboration. It wasn’t until I began to work with Tommy Castillo, a self-driven artist who would become my mentor. Through Tommy, my perception of art shifted from one of expression and one of realization. I began to ask myself what my art was to me? Before I could find my resolve, Tommy passed away in 2017. Read more>>

Madeline Bechtel | Illustration Artist & Graphic Designer

Looking back now, pursuing an artistic career was less of a choice and more of an inevitability for me. As far back as I can recall the things that have resonated in my soul and caused me to feel a spark of excitement and purpose have been art-centered whether I was aware of it at the time or not. I’m sure many artists can relate – looking back on childhood as a professional artist is like recalling clues that I’ve scattered for myself to help solidify my choice to be a creative for life. Read more>>

Michelle Dykman | Secondary Teacher & Christian Contemporary and YA Romance Author

Four years ago, I was completing a Master of Education when my backing was pulled. I found myself with hours in the evening where I had nothing to do. I am not a person who can lounge in front of a screen and needed a hobby to keep me busy. My husband had recently begun writing a book about his experiences with Depression and this along with the deep desire to help the young people face everyday problems spurred me to begin my own journey as an author. It was with this in mind that My Bethel Private School Series was born. Read more>>

Carlos Malache | Director, Cinematographer

I’ve never been good at anything else! Really, it was a necessity, haha. I remember being so lost as an adolescent knowing I was bad at sports, terrible at math and it seemed I wasn’t really good at anything. It was super frustrating. Everything changed when I was 14 and I picked up a guitar and found I had a natural ability for it. It was still hard work and I had to practice a lot, but eventually I went on to be accepted to a jazz guitar performance program and I started realizing I was more creative than I thought. Read more>>

Keith Kiernan | Tattoo Artist native to Denver CO

I have always been a creative individual. I remember as far as I can that when I picked up a pencil or pen crayon that I would draw something with it. I used to draw what I saw and would attempt to draw cartoon characters that I watched on tv. I used to pose my action figures in ways also and would draw them to get a perspective on the details. Read more>>